10 Top Colleges for Affordable Online Associates Degrees

Cost is an important concern for students looking to earn their associates degree online. An online associates degree remains a good investment, but with a down economy and the rising costs of living, finding accredited and affordable online schools is more important than ever. To help with that, we’ve put together this ranking of the top accredited online colleges with the most affordable associates degrees online.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using this ranking. For many top online colleges, tuition costs vary depending on the particular online degree program chosen. In determining which colleges to include in our ranking of the most affordable online schools for associates degrees we looked at the tuition costs of the cheapest online associates degree program offered by each school.

Recommended Affordable Online Associates Programs

  • Liberty University
  • Colorado Technical University
  • Kaplan University

More information about each of the ranked schools, including tuition costs and the online associates degrees they offer, can be found below.

It’s important to note that deciding which are the lowest cost online associates degree programs can be determined based either on the total tuition of an entire degree program or the tuition cost per credit hour. It’s possible for an online school with the cheapest tuition per credit hour to cost more in the long run than another school with more expensive per credit tuition if that school requires fewer credit hours to complete the degree. We’ve organized our tuition ranking based on the total estimated cost of the least expensive online associates degree program offered by the school, but also show the per credit tuition cost.

Finally, it’s not always the best idea to go with the online associates degree program with the cheapest tuition. If the program is not from an accredited online school, you could end up with a degree not even worth the cheap tuition you paid for it. In general, an online associates degree from a regionally accredited online college is considered more prestigious than one from a nationally accredited online school. Credits earned for online courses at a regionally accredited college are also typically more easily transferable to other schools and more likely to be eligible for reimbursement by corporate tuition reimbursement plans. That said, regionally accredited online associates degree programs tend to have more competitive admissions and are usually more expensive.

#1. Ivy Bridge College

Ivy Bridge College is part of Tiffin University, a private university in Tiffin, OH. Tiffin University was founded in 1888, and has multiple campuses throughout the state of Ohio, at the University of Bucharest in Romania, and online.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Ivy Bridge College offers inexpensive online associates degree programs starting as low as $4,200 ($68.85 per credit) for an online associates in Accounting. Other low cost online associates degrees offered by the school include General Studies, Business, Computer and Information Technology, Healthcare Administration, Sports Management, Corrections, Homeland Security, and Law Enforcement.

Accreditation

Ivy Bridge College is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission (NCA).

#2. California Coast University

California Coast University (CCU) is a private, non-profit university in Santa Ana, CA. CCU was founded in 1973, and has no campus classroom, offering all of its classes as distance education courses online.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

California Coast University offers a number of low cost online associates degrees starting at $9,000 ($150 per credit hour). Associates programs online at this cost include General Studies, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Health Care Administration, Business Marketing, and Business Administration.

Accreditation

California Coast University is nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

#3. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, non-profit university split between Manchester and Hooksett, NH. SNHU was established in 1932 as the New Hampshire School of Accounting Secretarial Science, adopting its current name in 2001 to reflect its growth into a comprehensive university.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Southern New Hampshire University offers an array of inexpensive online associates degrees, starting as low as $11,500 ($319.44 per credit) for an associates in Marketing. Other low cost online associates degree programs available include and online associates in Fashion Merchandising.

Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#4. Kent State University

Kent State University is a public research university in Kent, OH. Founded as a teacher training school in 1910, Kent State has grown to become one of the largest universities in the state of Ohio and among the most respected universities in the world.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Kent State University offers and affordable online associate degree in Computer Technology, with tuition for the entire program set at $17,306 ($288.43 per credit). Kent State does not offer any other online associates degree programs at this time.

Accreditation

Kent State University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#5. Liberty University Online

Liberty University a private, non-profit Christian university in Lynchburg, VA. Founded in 1971, Liberty University has grown to become the largest Evangelical Christian university in world, with most students taking distance education courses through Liberty University Online.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Liberty University Online offers a number of cheap online associates degree programs starting at $18,200 ($303.33 per credit). Associates degrees offered online at this price include Education, Religion, Psychology, Business, Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, Criminal Justice, and Accounting.

Accreditation

Liberty University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

>>Click here to request more information about online associates degrees from Liberty University Online<<

#6. Virginia College

Virginia College is a private, for-profit proprietary college with multiple campuses across the Southeastern United States. The original Virginia College was established in Roanoke, VA in 1983. The college is currently owned by Education Corporation of America headquartered in Birmingham, AL.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Virginia College offers an online associate degree program in Culinary Arts for $18,900 ($196.88 per credit). Other inexpensive online associates degree programs at Virginia College include Networking Technology, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Paralegal Studies.

Accreditation

Virginia College is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.

#7. Iowa Central College Online

Iowa Central College is a public community college located in Fort Dodge, IA. The school was founded in 1966 and now includes satellite campuses Webster City and Storm Lake in addition to its online campus Iowa Central College Online.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Iowa Central College Online offers affordable online associates programs starting at $18,910 ($305 per credit) for an online associates in Arts. Other cheap online associates degree programs at the school include Health Care Administration, Computer Networking Technology, Logistics and Transportation Management, Human Services, and Criminal Justice.

Accreditation

Iowa Central Community College is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#8. Mid-America Christian University

Mid-America Christian University is a private, Christian liberal arts college in Oklahoma City, OK. Founded as the South Texas Bible Institute in 1953 and located in Houston, TX, the school changed its name and moved to Oklahoma in 1984.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Mid-America Christian University offers a low cost online associates degree program in Arts and Ethics for $19,000 ($296.88 per credit). The school does not currently offer any other online associates degrees at this time.

Accreditation

Mid-America Christian University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#9. Baker College Online

Baker College is a private, non-profit career college with campuses throughout Michigan. Founded in 1965, the Baker College System is now the largest private, non-profit college in the state of Michigan, with over 42,000 students.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

Baker College Online offers a number of inexpensive associate degree programs online starting at $19,065 ($205 per credit). These programs include degrees in Marketing, Business, Management, Human Resource Management, Accounting, Web Development, and Computer Programming. Other cheap online associates degree options include Information Technology Support and Emergency Services Management.

Accreditation

Baker College is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#10. American InterContinental University

American InterContinental University (AIU) is a private, for-profit university with multiple campus in the United States, the United Kingdom, Dubai and online. Established in 1970, AIU enrolls about 24,000 students, with the vast majority of them at their online campus AIU Online.

Online Associate Degrees Offered

American InterContinental University offers their most affordable online associates degrees starting at $27,180 ($302 per credit). AIU associates degrees online at this price include Visual Communications, Business Administration, and Criminal Justice.

Accreditation

American InterContinental University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

>>Click here to request more information about online associates degrees from American InterContinental University<<

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